A 41-year-old man with a continuous- flow left ventricular assist device presented for evaluation of dysphagia and dark urine. He was found to have a significantly elevated L-lactate dehydrogenaseand an elevated plasm...A 41-year-old man with a continuous- flow left ventricular assist device presented for evaluation of dysphagia and dark urine. He was found to have a significantly elevated L-lactate dehydrogenaseand an elevated plasma free hemoglobin consistent with intravascular hemolysis.After the hemolysis ceased,both the black urine and dysphagia resolved spontaneously.Transient esophageal dysfunction,as a manifestation of gastrointestinal dysmotility,is known to occur in the setting of hemolysis.Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is another recognized cause of massive hemolysis with gastrointestinal dysmotility occurring in25%-35%of patients during a paroxysm.Intravascular hemolysis increases plasma free hemoglobin,which scavenges nitric oxide(NO),an important second messenger for smooth muscle cell relaxation.The decrease in NO can lead to esophageal spasm and resultant dysphagia.In our patient the resolution of hemolysis resulted in resolution of dysphagia.展开更多
Choice of first line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)is based on tumour and patient related factors and molecular information for determination of individual treatment aim and thus treatm...Choice of first line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)is based on tumour and patient related factors and molecular information for determination of individual treatment aim and thus treatment intensity.Recent advances(e.g.,extended RAS testing)enable tailored patient assignment to the most beneficial treatment approach.Besides fluoropyrimidines,irinotecan and oxaliplatin,a broad variety of molecular targeting agents are currently available,e.g.,anti-angiogenic agents(bevacizumab)and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)antibodies(cetuximab,panitumumab)for first line treatment of mCRC.Although some combinations should be avoided(e.g.,oral or bolus fluoropyrimidines,oxaliplatin and EGFR antibodies),treatment options range from single agent to highly effective four-drug regimen.Preliminary data comparing EGFR antibodies and bevacizumab,both with chemotherapy,seem to favour EGFR antibodies in RAS wildtype disease.However,choosing the most appropriate treatment approach for mCRC patients remains a complex issue,with numerous open questions.展开更多
文摘A 41-year-old man with a continuous- flow left ventricular assist device presented for evaluation of dysphagia and dark urine. He was found to have a significantly elevated L-lactate dehydrogenaseand an elevated plasma free hemoglobin consistent with intravascular hemolysis.After the hemolysis ceased,both the black urine and dysphagia resolved spontaneously.Transient esophageal dysfunction,as a manifestation of gastrointestinal dysmotility,is known to occur in the setting of hemolysis.Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is another recognized cause of massive hemolysis with gastrointestinal dysmotility occurring in25%-35%of patients during a paroxysm.Intravascular hemolysis increases plasma free hemoglobin,which scavenges nitric oxide(NO),an important second messenger for smooth muscle cell relaxation.The decrease in NO can lead to esophageal spasm and resultant dysphagia.In our patient the resolution of hemolysis resulted in resolution of dysphagia.
文摘Choice of first line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)is based on tumour and patient related factors and molecular information for determination of individual treatment aim and thus treatment intensity.Recent advances(e.g.,extended RAS testing)enable tailored patient assignment to the most beneficial treatment approach.Besides fluoropyrimidines,irinotecan and oxaliplatin,a broad variety of molecular targeting agents are currently available,e.g.,anti-angiogenic agents(bevacizumab)and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)antibodies(cetuximab,panitumumab)for first line treatment of mCRC.Although some combinations should be avoided(e.g.,oral or bolus fluoropyrimidines,oxaliplatin and EGFR antibodies),treatment options range from single agent to highly effective four-drug regimen.Preliminary data comparing EGFR antibodies and bevacizumab,both with chemotherapy,seem to favour EGFR antibodies in RAS wildtype disease.However,choosing the most appropriate treatment approach for mCRC patients remains a complex issue,with numerous open questions.
